Friday, December 9, 2011

Celtic Sojourn Lights Up Music Hall

Hanneke Cassel - Sunday, July 3, on the Custom...Image via Wikipedia
The Christmas spectacular that has sold out shows throughout New England returns to The Music Hall this season for what promises to be an unforgettable holiday event! A top-flight cast of singers, musicians, and dancers join Brian O’Donovan, host of NPR’s wildly popular Celtic Sojourn, for a festival of traditional and contemporary music from the Celtic countries and England.

“People of all ages will be enchanted and uplifted by this unique holiday celebration,” says Patricia Lynch, Executive Director of The Music Hall. “It’s a memorable treat for the entire family, made even more magical in the landmark Victorian environment of our historic theater. Don’t miss it!”

This year’s show features an exciting variety of singers, musicians, and dancers steeped in Celtic traditions and other influences. Newcomers to the cast include Ruth Moody, the wonderful Canadian singer who is part of the trio The Waylin’ Jennys, now a staple on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion. As well, a whole new selection of dancers has been assembled especially for the show.

Several cast favorites are returning as well. Hanneke Cassel, who was a hit in last year’s concert, has re-assembled the group Halali, which also includes Laura Cortese, Lissa Schneckenburger, and guitarist extraordinaire Flynn Cohen.

The cast also includes the popular singer Len Graham, who hails from Derry in the north of Ireland. He's gained an international reputation not only for his inimitable singing style, but also for the breadth of his knowledge of Irish folk music. And Simon Chrisman, who is part of the rising star lineup of The Bee Eaters, is bringing a new instrument to the stage — the Hammer Dulcimer. Plus, the Uilleann Pipes will be featured, courtesy of Kieran O’Hare.

Multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan of Solas is back on stage, and, again acting as music director for the show. He will be joined by long-time collaborators Chico Huff on acoustic bass, and, new to Christmas Celtic this year, percussionist Ben Wittman. Kevin Doyle makes his return to the show, not just as a spectacular dancer, but also as the dance director. He will be introducing a group of younger dancers from the Boston area to create some toe-tapping magic on stage.

Artistically directed again by Paula Plum, this promises to be one of the most spectacular and enjoyable Christmas Celtic Sojourn concerts yet!

Celtic Sojourn Lights Up Music Hall - Portsmouth, NH Patch

Monday, December 5, 2011

Pipers explain their art on new DVD

"LOVERS of Irish music will get insight into the art of uilleann piping on a new DVD featuring Sean Potts, Brian MacNamara and Peter Browne who are joined by Jackie Small on Piper's Choice Vol IV.

The three musicians perform their favourite pieces and explain in depth their individual approach to each selection and to the instrument in general.
"

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

The Thistle And Shamrock: Pipes 101

"Irish uilleann pipes, Scottish lowland pipes, bagpipes from Brittany and Galicia are all cousins to each other and to the most celebrated of the genre, the great highland pipes of Scotland. We hear various brands of bagpipes and listen to the exciting music they make in the hands of Davy Spillane, Kila, Carlos Núñez and more.

For more information on this program, visit www.thistleradio.com."

Monday, October 17, 2011

A Pint and Papadello

ROCKLAND — On Thursday, Oct. 20, Rock City Café will transform into the Velvet Lounge with A Pint of Plain. The music will run from 7 to 9 p.m. at Rock City Café, 318 Main St.

A Pint of Plain features Jim Burke on fiddle; Jim Hyland on guitar, button accordion and fiddle; Hugh McGuinness on cittern; and Susanne Ward on the uilleann pipes.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

A masterful collaboration between Iarla O’Lionaird and Ivan Goff

The sixth edition of the Irish Arts Center’s Masters in Collaboration featuring singer Iarla O’Lionaird and uilleann piper and flute player Ivan Goff did its best to continue the evolution of a very fine musical series in midtown Manhattan.

A hiccup in the visa process for artists’ abroad -- the bane of presenters drawing on international talent for the United States -- delayed the arrival of the Cuil Aodha native Gaelgoier vocalist until midweek, canceling out the Wednesday night interview which usually informs as well as previews the weekend’s concluding performances.

As a result the artists had less time to work with one another and also with another guest artist, Dan Trueman, a hardanger fiddler recently known for encouraging the use of Norway’s double-stringed fiddle into Irish music.

To add to the challenge they found a harmonium at the last minute thanks to musician Cleek Schrey, who loaned it to them which greatly added to the mix of musical instruments and in accompanying the powerful voice of the iconic O’Lionaird who played it as well.

This series is all about risks and they come from every direction, and it is part of the fascination with creating live performances and not canned ones.

The Sunday night audience was welcomed at the outset by O’Lionaird lightening the dark mood that the intimate black box Donaghy theater sometimes conveys, though I am not sure he was entirely successful in that as the evening ensued.

“Welcome into the void,” he exclaimed, “and we’ll be in there soon along with you.”
There was a heavy undertone to this collaboration due in large part by material selected by the artists for the joint effort, but it wasn’t anything to apologize for because long form story or literary songs in Irish for the non-speaker can set the mind adrift.

However, when the singer is someone as talented and unique as O’Lionaird and the piper as sensitive as Goff who used his chanter, drones, regulator and bellows in the most complimentary fashion, the result was riveting as they marched through their program to the ultimate delight of the crowd.

If the tenor of the show was more serious than the previous edition earlier this year with the comedic Joanie Madden and Seamus Begley, well, that speaks more about how the series can stay fresh and varied.

What it allowed for was more concentration on the craft of the singer and the piper who meshed the powerful words of a native tongue with beautiful melodies that underscored the songs and the tunes that followed them.

As rich as O’Lionaird’s vocals were, they were matched by the deft fingering and playing of Dubliner Goff all evening. The slower pace of the evening allowed us to peer into the souls of these artists in a way that isn’t always afforded us in larger spaces or venues.

Both of these artists made the most of the evening and the circumstances and deserved the greater focus that the series provided them there at the Irish Arts Center. And it also continued to open wider our appreciation of the breath of expression and depth of feeling within our Irish heritage even if it is in a language we do not know but perhaps our ancestors did.

The series provides great exposure for the artists and some risks as well, but there are also risks for the audience in coming along and not knowing what to expect. When they are informed and challenged and ultimately entertained, that is what we all look for in the Masters in Collaboration series at the Irish Arts Center. Can’t wait to see what happens next.

By the way, O’Lionaird has just produced an exquisite new CD called 'Foxlight' on the Real World record label, and he will also be participating in a music and literary festival at Les Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village on October 27 and 28.

And early in January as part of the world music extravaganza Globalfest, a new Irish band called the Gloaming features O’Lionaird, Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Caoimhin O Raghallaigh and Thomas Bartlett formed not too long ago. You can find more information at www.iarla-o-lionaird.net.

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/story/ent/from_the_hob/a-masterful-collaboration-between-iarla-olionaird-and-ivan-goff-131857943.html#ixzz1b10AzV8M

A masterful collaboration between Iarla O’Lionaird and Ivan Goff | From The Hob | IrishCentra